Visitor Management Plan Visitor Management Plan Shackleton Walk Shackleton Walk

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Copyright Conditions Text Copyright © 2008 Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

Digital Visitor Management Plan Maps are copyright © of the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. These maps may not Route from landing site at Fortuna be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, for any other purpose than the Site Visitor Management Plans, without the express, written consent of the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The maps are based on those produced by Scott, J.J. and Poncet, S. 2003. South Georgia Environmental Mapping Report. Technical Report No. EBS03/1. South Georgia Environmental Baseline Survey and the photocopying or use of material in these for bona-fide research and educational purposes is permitted, subject to appropriate acknowledgement of the sources.

Site photographs Callum Thomson & Kim Crosbie. Copyright remains with the individual photographers.

Funding Part funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Overseas Territories Programme Fund

Route from landing site at Fortuna Bay

Page 12 Page 1 Visitor Management Plan Visitor Management Plan Shackleton Walk Shackleton Walk Description • Topography The southern section of the western shore of Fortuna Bay is marked by a series of prominent scree ridges comprising sedimentary sandstone and shale. The two most conspicuous ridges lead up towards ‘Crean Lake’. The pass lies at approximately 300m altitude. Conspicuous folding in the rocks, typical of the Cumberland Formation, is visible in the cliffs at the head of Shackleton Valley and at the east entrance of Stromness Bay. Shackleton Valley is dominated by a braided gravel river bed.

• Fauna Confirmed breeders: Fortuna Bay side - light-mantled sooty albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata), southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus), white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis), Wilson’s storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), South Georgia diving petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus), kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), brown skua (Catharacta lonnbergi), elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) and fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella). Stromness Bay side - gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua), light-mantled sooty albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata), South Georgia diving petrel (Pelecanoidesgeorgicus), kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), brown skua (Catharacta lonnbergi), Antarctic tern (Sterna vittate Crean Tarn is often still frozen in early spring georgiae), elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) and fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella). Introduced land mammals: Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus).

• Flora Vegetation cover between Fortuna Bay and Stromness Harbour extends from sea level to approximately 100 – 150 metre altitude. Fortuna Bay slopes – lower slopes predominantly tussac, merging into Festuca grassland with scattered mossy seepage gullies. Moss patches on lower scree slopes and at stream edges. Shackleton Valley – inland fellfield communities merge with Festuca grassland, with bog and mire communities on the lower slopes. In the area of rolling hills behind Stromness whaling station Festuca grassland, short mixed grassland and bog and mire communities are mixed with moss communities and areas of reindeer-grazed tussac.

•Other Route down from Stromness viewpoint Descent down into Shackleton Last section of the route Shackleton, Crean and Worsley took across South Georgia. 1914. Valley

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Route Description Continued - page 3/3 Key Features Description of Point Comments Latitude/ • Historical interest Longitude • Mountain scenery Head in the direction of the whaling station 54°09.111/ and after descending another c. 100m, cross 036°44.458 a scree gulley to join a curved Festuca Visitor Impacts covered ridge that descends to the foot of the waterfall. • Known Impacts Track starting to form on some scree sections; divots on bog and mire slope adjacent to Follow this ridge to the valley floor and then walk over to view Shackleton waterfall. Shackleton waterfall. Base of Shackleton waterfall When viewing the waterfall, remain on the 54°09.017/ valley floor and keep off the bog and mire 036°44.324 • Potential Impacts slope adjacent to the waterfall. It hosts a locally rare fern that is easily damaged by Disturbance of wildlife, particularly diving petrel burrows and trampling of vegetation. trampling.

Shackleton Valley down to the Follow the braided gravel stream bed down to Landing Requirements beach. the Stromness beach area. Please stay on the gravel bed as this avoids the bog and mire • Ships * communities on the lower slopes on the south Ships carrying 500 or fewer passengers. One ship at a time. side of Shackleton Valley, the moss communities around the small lakes and the moss easily trampled plant communities Maximum 2 ships per day (midnight to midnight) of which no more than 1 vessel carrying situated in the hills behind the station. On more than 200 passengers. the beach, avoid intersecting gentoo penguin colony access routes. • Visitors Walking groups of no more than 100 visitors exclusive of expedition guides and leaders. 1 experienced guide per 20 visitors. If the number of walkers exceeds 100 then they should be divided into distinct groups of no more than 100 passengers, maintaining the ratio of 1 guide to 20 visitors with each group. It is strongly advisable that the hike be led by someone with previous experience of the route using the waypoints provided.

∗ A ship is defined as a vessel which carries more than 12 passengers. Crossing the stream between ridges on route up from Fortuna Bay

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Visitor Areas Route Description Continued - page 2/3

• Landing Area Description of Point Comments Latitude/ Fortuna Bay: gravel beach area to the south of Hodson Point. Longitude Stromness: beach area between the ships’ propellers (200m from station) and mouth of the Route skirting northwest edge Leave ‘Crean Lake’ and skirt around its 54°09.201/ of ‘Crean Lake’ towards pass northwest shore, climbing gravel/shale Shackleton Valley river. 036°45.671 ridge to an outcrop/low bluff overlooking the lake. • Closed Areas From the outcrop / low bluff continue uphill 54°09.228/ towards the pass. 036°45.529 Closed Area A: burrowing petrel sites on scree slopes above Fortuna Bay and adjacent to Shackleton waterfall. The Pass Two small tarns are located at the western 54°09.210/ section of the pass. 036°45.178 Closed Area B: the area of small rolling hills behind station comprising moss beds and bog The highest point of the pass is 54°09.167/ and mire communities. approximately 300m asl. 036°44.833 Closed Area C: staked area surrounding Stromness whaling station, incorporating the From the highest point follow the gentle downhill slope in an east-northeast station and any jetties to a boundary of 200m including to the seaward side. direction towards the Stromness Bay Closed Area D: bog and mire slope adjacent to south side of Shackleton waterfall, viewpoint. containing numerous locally rare ferns. Stromness Bay & whaling Two rocky knolls mark the first viewpoint of 54°09.158/ station viewpoint. Shackleton Valley and Stromness whaling 036°44.761 • Guided Walking Areas station. Descent from viewpoint down From the rocky knolls, head north, skirting 54 09.085/ The specified route should be followed (see below) to avoid creation of multiple tracks, ° to Shackleton Valley the knoll to commence the steep descent 036°44.693 potential disturbance of wildlife and damage to sensitive vegetation communities. on scree. Great care is required in the descent • Free Roaming Areas If slope has snow, please be aware snow small slab avalanches are possible. The immediate landing beaches at Fortuna Bay and Stromness Harbour, the braided river The route initially follows the gorge leading bed area in Shackleton Valley and the level area behind the whaling station between the to the Shackleton waterfall in a northerly direction. staked area and the rolling hills. After descending c. 50m, turn northeast 54°09.047/ towards a conspicuous rocky outcrop that 036°44.651 appears on the skyline with Shackleton Valley and Stromness Harbour below. Take care to keep to the south side of this 54°09.049/ outcrop to avoid straying into the diving 036°44.575 petrel burrows area located at 54°09.009’S 036°44.608`W.

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Route Description - page 1/3 Visitor Code of Conduct

Behaviour ashore Description of Point Comments Latitude/ • Walk slowly and carefully. Maintain a precautionary distance of from wildlife and give Longitude animals the right-of-way. Increase your distance if any change in behaviour is observed. Beach – Fortuna Bay 54°08.850`S/ Be alert to fur seals. 36°47.110`W Know the location of the diving petrel burrow areas and avoid them. Route up through tussac Use short, steep gully with water seepage in 54°08.900’S/ slope it. This avoids the extensive moss banks in 036°47.125W Be alert to the presence of Antarctic terns in Shackleton Valley. (See photo) alternative gullies and the area of breeding southern giant petrels nesting on the Festuca Avoid walking on areas of lichen and moss and on the bog and mire slope adjacent to the grassland slopes above the beach. Shackleton waterfall. Start of Festuca grassland Use the ridge to gain elevation. Keep to the 54°08.894/ Avoid the gentoo penguin access routes between the colony and the beach at Stromness. area and route up first upper slopes of the ridge to avoid more 036°47.018 ridge. sensitive vegetation on the lower slopes. Be Be aware of giant petrel nests on the slopes above the landing beach in Fortuna Bay, alert to roosting or nesting skuas and nesting keeping a minimum distance of 10 metres. giant petrels. Leave first ridge and make Leave the upper slopes of the ridge where 54°09.017/ way E towards stream lower slope vegetation finishes and bare scree 036°46.776 • Cautionary notes crossing commences, heading E down slope towards This is a strenuous walk in potentially treacherous wilderness conditions, remote from any the stream at the base of the gully outside assistance. This walk should only be undertaken in calm, settled weather Stream crossing point Cross the stream at a rocky area. Avoid moss 54 09.029/ ° conditions with appropriate medical and safety procedures in place to enable self patches. 036°46.734 sufficiency in the case of an emergency. Diagonal route up second Take a long gentle route heading up towards 54°09.070/ Be aware that the descent from the pass down into Shackleton Valley is particularly steep. ridge towards ‘Crean Lake’ the crest of the second ridge crossing a series 036°46.586 Small slab avalanches can occur in this vicinity under certain conditions. of vegetated rock seepages.

Take care to skirt to the south of the rocky • Biosecurity knoll to avoid straying into the diving petrel burrows area located at 54°09.116’S All landings must comply with GSGSSI biosecurity measures and self-audit checks must be 036°46.496`W. carried out prior to landing.

At the crest of the second ridge follow the 54°09.114/ waypoints heading eastwards towards 036°46.418 ‘Crean Lake’ ‘Crean Lake’ Overview Be aware ‘Crean Lake’ surface is usually 54°09.240 frozen in winter.

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Sketch Map. Not for navigation • Start: 54°08.85`S 36°47.11`W Finish: 54°09.4`S 36°42.6`W 5.5km hike across a 300 metre mountain pass between Fortuna Bay and Stromness Harbour.

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